Arrangement for a use billing system

ABSTRACT

A use billing system with an arrangement for identifying distances traveled by a moving object within a system of traveled distances or for identifying fixed geographical zones entered by the object. In order to provide a billing arrangement which is universally applicable as far as possible and which requires little expenditure on infrastructure, a system is provided which is installed independently for wireless transmission of information to detect the current geographical position of the object. The moving object carries a reception system to receive the information transmitted over the air and a storage device for temporary storage of data. A second storage device for permanent storage of predetermined data is also carried. The object further carries a comparison device for comparing these data. An identification device is carried by the object for identifying the respective traveled distance. A mobile storage module which can be connected with the identification device by computer techniques is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a use billing system with an arrangementfor identifying distances traveled by a moving object (e.g., a passengerautomobile, motorcycle, truck, bus, ship, railroad train, aircraft,person, piece item) within a system of traveled distances (e.g., ahighway system, waterway system, railroad system) or for identifyinggeographical zones (e.g., inner-city zones, air space zones, naturepreserve zones) entered by the object.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A position detection system for a motor vehicle is known from EP-A-0 519630. This system determines position data via the GPS system and showsthe data on a display. This GPS system is also used for another positiondetection system described in EP-A-0 519 630. The data can be recordedon a memory card or a PC.

Finally, DE-A-35 37 730 discloses an arrangement for automaticallyhoming on a target point. For this purpose, position finding is carriedout via a transmitter in a known location and the actual course of themoving object is determined therefrom.

Charges for the use of bridges or tunnels are commonly collected at tollstations similar to border posts, where the fee is collected bypersonnel or automatic coin payment machines. In order to charge for theuse of sections of highway in France and Italy, a system is used inwhich the driver takes a ticket on which the entry point is marked in amachine-readable manner when entering the highway and at the junctionbetween a toll-free highway section and a toll highway section. At theexit or when passing from a toll highway section to a toll-free highwaysection, the total traveled distance can be determined by means of thisticket and the respective use charge can be calculated and collected.Although this system enables reliable billing, its use requires not onlyconsiderable investment to provide the necessary infrastructure, inparticular for construction of toll stations with automatic ticketmachines, barriers and lighting installations, etc., but also aconsiderable expense for personnel to man the toll stations during theday and night. An additional grave disadvantage consists in that thetoll collecting activities severely impede the flow of trafficespecially at peak traffic hours.

In order to avoid this expense, Switzerland has for a number of yearsemployed a different system for collecting tolls for the use of highwayswhich is based on a lump payment for a fixed time period. In exchangefor a lump payment, the driver receives a sticker which is to be placedin a visible location in the vehicle and which shows an externallyvisible authorization to travel on the highway and accordingly presentsa verifiable record. This system requires no substantial expenditure oninfrastructure, since it can make use of existing installations forselling the stickers (e.g., post offices, border posts) and formonitoring (e.g., highway entries and exits). However, it is notpossible to charge for the actual extent of use, so that the calculationof costs does not adequately take into account the principle thatpayment should be commensurate with use.

Systems which permit an individual charge based on the actual extent ofuse have also already been suggested. However, these systems requirethat a suitable local infrastructure be provided, since they are based,for instance, upon infrared systems or so-called h-f transponder systemsor r-f transponder systems, that is, upon special mechanical devices fordetecting and identifying individual vehicles on the toll routes inquestion or in corresponding fixed geographical zones such as inner-cityzones in which automobile traffic is to be restricted. The transpondertechnique has been known for some years from its use in the field ofmilitary air traffic for distinguishing enemy flying objects fromfriendly flying objects. The applied principle consists in that anobject to be identified is "beamed" (e.g., by radar) from a monitoringstation (e.g., a ground station, a ship or an aircraft) and anappropriate identification signal is then sent automatically to therespective monitoring station. In order to transfer this principle to ahighway toll charging system, for instance, suitable mechanicalmonitoring stations would have to be provided at determined points alongthe highway toll route system (particularly at entry and exit points) toenable a complete acquisition of the data required for use billing.Accordingly, a system of this kind requires a considerable expenditurefor providing a special infrastructure covering a surface area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to an arrangement of the typementioned above which is suitable not only for charging fees for highwayuse, but also for detecting other instances of use of defined zones(distances, surface areas, spaces) by moving objects and which requirescomparatively little expenditure on infrastructure.

Pursuant to this object, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in a use billingsystem having an arrangement for identifying distances traveled by amoving object within a system of traveled distances or for identifyingfixed geographical zones entered by the object. The use billing systemincludes a transmission system installed outside the moving objectindependently from the distances and fixed geographical zones to betraveled for wireless transmission of information to detect the currentgeographical position of the object. A reception system is carried bythe moving object and is operative to receive the information from thetransmission system for detecting the position which is transmitted overthe air. A first storage device as carried by the object for a temporarystorage of data concerning the current geographical position of theobject. A second storage device is carried by the object for permanentstorage of predetermined geographical positions for unequivocalidentification of the individual travel distances of the system oftraveled distances and/or the fixed geographical zones. A comparisondevice is carried by the object for preparing the respectivegeographical position of the object determined at regular intervals withthe position data of the identification points. An identification devicethat is also carried by the object identifies the distance traveled bythe object and/or the fixed geographical zone entered or exited by theobject on the basis of the geographical positions which have just beenpassed by the object and which have been determined by the comparisondevice and agree with the identification points. Finally, the billingsystem has a mobile storage module which can be connected with theidentification device by computer techniques and in which the respectiveidentified distances currently being traveled and/or the presence in afixed geographical zone is logged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be described more fully in the following withreference to a system for charging fees for the use of highways by wayof example. The drawing in FIG. 1 shows a section of a road system witha highway. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system according to the invention is formed of three main functionalblocks, namely:

a position detection system on board the vehicle;

a billing system on board the vehicle; and

a portable or mobile storage medium for storing billing data.

The position detection system has a system 10 for receiving informationfor detecting the current geographical position of the vehicle and afirst storage device 11 for temporary storage of the current position.The information for position detection is received over the air by asystem 12 installed independently from of the highway system. Thissystem is often already present or can be adjusted at relatively lowcost for the purpose of transmitting appropriate information. Someexamples are existing satellite navigation systems (e.g., GPS, GLONASS)or direction finder systems based on existing mobile telephonecommunications networks (e.g., the German C-, D-, and E-networks) bywhich a very accurate position detection can be effected on the basis ofdifferent signal propagation times to neighboring ground stations. Insatellite navigation systems, it may be advantageous to provide theopportunity to receive correction signals (e.g., for the differentialGPS system) in order to increase the accuracy of position detection.This compensates for influences due to errors such as satellite orbiterrors, timing errors, and signal propagation errors and enables alocation resolution of less than 10 m. A correction signal of this kindcould be transmitted, for instance, by radio broadcasting (e.g., RDS) orby a GSM mobile communications network. Other systems which determinethe vehicle position from radio contact and from sensor equipmentinstalled in the vehicle are also possible. For example, a sensor fordetermining mileage (e.g., via the revolutions of the rear wheels) and afluxgate can be provided which enable accurate position-finding withreference to a digitized system of roads when the position of thevehicle is obtained prior to the start of the trip by means of acommunications device installed within the vehicle. A "dead reckoningsensor" 13 (e.g., in the form of a fluxgate) which is carded on boardthe vehicle can be provided to enable a continuous updating of positiondata in the event of a temporary malfunction of a position detectionsystem (e.g., due to shielding effects or unfavorable satelliteposition).

The billing system carried on board the vehicle contains a secondstorage device 14 for permanent storage of predetermined geographicalpositions (identification points) allowing for an unambiguousidentification of individual traveled distances on the system of routesand/or of fixed zones. Further, there is a computing unit which operatesas a comparison device 15 and which constantly compares the currentposition of the vehicle with the stored position data (coordinates) ofthe identification points at frequent intervals (e.g., once or twiceevery second). If the agreement between the position data issufficiently exact, the computing device identifies the section ofhighway which has just been traveled over and which can be associatedwith this identification point. This will be explained in more detail inthe following.

The use of identified sections of highway is logged by the computingdevice on a mobile storage medium 16. By mobile storage medium 16 ismeant a device which can be carried by the driver of the vehicle andwhich, if needed, can be connected with the computing device via aread-write device by computer technique. This mobile storage medium ispreferably constructed as a magnetic-tape card or chip storage card.However, other media, e.g., programmable storage components such as PALcomponents, FPLA components or FPLS components, can also be used.

If the information received externally from the position detectionsystem is not position data in a strict sense, the computing deviceadditionally takes on the task of calculating the coordinates of therespective position of the vehicle from this information. The secondstorage device with the position data for the identification points canbe physically integrated in the first storage device. However, it mayalso be advantageous to integrate the second storage device in themobile storage module.

The principle of use billing can be illustrated with reference to thesection of a system of distances shown in FIG. 1 which shows a tollhighway 1 as well as toll-free roads 4, 5, 6 crossing the highway 1. Theentry/exit points 2a and 2b of the highway 1 are identified by squares.The geographical positions of these locations are stored in the secondstorage device as identification points. When the computing devicedetects a current vehicle position which is in agreement with theposition of square 2a or square 2b (with predetermined accuracy), thiscan mean that the vehicle is located on a toll section of highway.However, it might also mean that the highway 1 has only been crossed viathe toll-free road 4 or 5. Even when a second square is passed, there isstill no unequivocal determination in this respect. For example, it isalso possible to travel from square 2a to square 2b via roads 4 and 5,that is, just as can be done via the highway 1. For this reason, atleast one additional identification point 3a, 3b (marked by a circle) onthe highway 1 is provided and stored between every two directlysuccessive entry/exit points on the highway 1. This additionalidentification point, when passed subsequent to an identified entrypoint/exit point, enables a completely unequivocal determination to bemade regarding the section of highway that has just been traveled over,so that a corresponding record can be made on the mobile storage mediumfor calculating charges. Highway crossings and highway triangles arealso detected as identification points with their position coordinatesin order to provide a complete identification of all portions of thenetwork of highway sections.

In principle, it would also be possible to effectively bill for use bythe month, for instance, by referring to the recorded instances of useat fee payment locations. However, it is considerably more advantageousto use the mobile storage medium like a telephone card; that is, theuser purchases a "highway toll card" thus already acquiring beforehandthe authorization to make use of the highway to a determined extent (usecredit). When the highway is actually used, the charge for everytraveled distance is deducted from the actual use credit by recordingmeans 22.

A great advantage is obtained by storing use rates on the mobile storagemedium in addition to the identification points of the highway system inthat graduated authorizations for use can be realized in a simplemanner. For example, it is possible to issue special highway toll cardsfor the use of determined regions or routes (e.g., transit highways).Different sets of charges to be applied for different vehicle types(passenger automobiles, motorcycles, busses, trucks) can also easily betaken into account by means of highway toll cards with a suitabledifferent design and which are provided with different rates.

The components of the device according to the invention which areinternal to the vehicle and which are preferably designed as compactmobile logging devices 21 can also be physically integrated, forinstance, within a car radio, a terminal of a traffic control system 20or in a mobile telephone set and can accordingly be permanentlyinstalled in the vehicle. Mobile devices are particularly handy forcalculating charges for foreign vehicles which are not outfitted withcorresponding arrangements. Thus, in addition to highway use cards,logging devices 21 could also be issued at border crossings for anappropriate fee. The logging device is preferably activated by insertingthe highway use card into a corresponding read-write device. The devicecan be switched off automatically when the vehicle stops andautomatically reactivated as the vehicle begins moving again. Displaydevices 17 are advantageously installed within the vehicle to alert thedriver when driving into a toll zone and to provide a timely, clearindication (similar to a fuel gauge) of the impending depletion of usecredit. A continuous display of current use credit is advantageous.Stations 19 at which additional use credit can be purchased for asuitable fee or where a new highway use card can be purchased arepreferably provided along the highway routes (e.g., at rest stops, gasstations and parking lots).

If needed, the device according to the invention enables highlydifferentiated use billing which can also take into account theintensity of use (e.g., it can detect the duration of travel within atoll zone). For this purpose, special possibilities can be provided forinput of corresponding parameters. For instance, a sensible variantwould be to apply lower rates for individual sections of road or for theentire highway system during off-peak traffic times (e.g., based onseason or evening hours) in order to reduce traffic at peak periods by asuitable shifting of traffic.

Unauthorized use of toll sections or zones can be prevented and suchimproper use can be monitored in an advantageous manner by an outwardlyacting signal device 18 (e.g., an h-f transmitter, r-f transmitter,laser diode for infrared signals, etc.) which operates and transmits an"OK" signal when the billing procedure is properly followed and properuse is made of the roads. Externally arranged reception stations (e.g.,installed in monitoring vehicles used on the highway exits) canaccordingly detect vehicles in which there is no fee detection system orin which the installed system is not being operated properly, that is,when the required fee is not paid. As an alternative or in addition tothis, an outwardly acting signal device (e.g., a colored warning light)can be automatically activated when travel within a toll region isextended after the use credit has been exhausted. In such cases, a radiosignal which allows the vehicle to be identified can also be sent to amonitoring station. In these cases, the extent of unauthorized use ofthe highway can be recorded on the mobile storage module for purposes oflocal traffic patrols.

A substantial advantage of the solution according to the inventionconsists in that it requires new installation of infrastructure only toa negligible extent, if at all, and enables the use of existingarrangements, that is, arrangements which are installed independentlyfrom the respective zone which is subject to use billing. A furtherimportant advantage consists in that instances of use subject to chargesare determined and calculated in the vehicle automatically so as toprovide favorable conditions with respect to protection of data and toexclude unwanted monitoring of driving behavior. No information remainsin storage which could enable identification of the total distancetraveled by the respective vehicle within the toll region. Thetemporarily stored information about traveled distances is erased afterthe use charge has been deducted from the use credit. The coordinates ofthe last identification point passed by the vehicle which represents thebeginning of the route currently being traveled over are filed in thestorage each time. However, when necessary, special logging deviceswhich carry out continuous documentation of all traveled distances canbe provided, if expressly desired, in order to keep a travel logautomatically, e.g., for transportation companies.

As was already mentioned above, use of the arrangement according to theinvention is in no way restricted to road traffic, but rather istransferrable to many other applications.

I claim:
 1. A use billing system including an arrangement foridentifying distances traveled by a moving object within a system oftraveled distances and for identifying fixed geographical zones enteredby the object, the system comprising:a transmission system arrangedexternal to the moving object independent of the distances and fixedgeographical zones for a wireless transmission of information fordetermining a current geographical position of the object; a receptionsystem carried by the moving object and operative to receive theinformation from the transmission system for determining the position;first storage means carried by the object for temporarily storing dataconcerning the current geographical position of the object; secondstorage means carried by the object for permanently storingpredetermined geographical positions called identification points forunequivocal identification of individual traveled distances of thesystem of traveled distances and the fixed geographical zones;comparison means carried by the object for comparing respectivegeographical positions of the object determined at regular intervalswith position data of the identification points; identification meanscarried by the object for identifying the distance traveled by theobject and the fixed geographical zone entered or exited by the objectbased upon the geographical positions passed by the object anddetermined by the comparison means and agreeing with the identificationpoints; and a mobile storage module connectable with the identificationmeans for receiving and storing respective identified distancescurrently being traveled and presence in a fixed geographical zone.
 2. Asystem as defined in claim 1, and further comprising computing meanscarried by the object for calculating the geographical position of theobject from the information transmitted by the transmission system whenthe information does not represent position data.
 3. A system as definedin claim 1, wherein the transmission system is a satellite navigationsystem.
 4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the reception systemis adapted to receive correction signals which facilitate improvement ofaccuracy of the position detection.
 5. A system as defined in claim 3,and further comprising a dead reckoning sensor operatively provided inthe object to continue providing position data during a temporarymalfunction of the navigation system.
 6. A system as defined in claim 5,wherein the dead reckoning sensor is a flux gate.
 7. A system as definedin claim 1, wherein the transmission system is configured as part of acellular mobile communications network, the reception system being amobile telephone and positions of the object being determined based upondifferent propagation lines of signals from the object to individualreception stations of the mobile communications network, the mobiletelephone having means for regular transmission of identification dataand for receiving positioning data when the telephone is not in use. 8.A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmission system is adirection finder system.
 9. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein themobile storage module is one of a magnetic tape card and a chip storagecard.
 10. A system as defined claim 1, wherein the second storage meansis provided as a component part of the mobile storage module.
 11. Asystem as defined in claim 1, wherein the moving object is a roadvehicle and the system of traveled distances is a highway system, thesecond storage means being operative to permanently store identificationpoints that relate to connection points of the highway and to at leastone intermediate point located between two immediately successiveconnection points on a section of the highway extending between thesetwo connection points.
 12. A system as defined in claim 11, includingmeans for recording at least one of an identified distance actuallytraveled within a system of toll distances and an entry into a fixedgeographical zone as a debt of a credit stored in the mobile storagemodule, the debit being determined along the system of travel distancesbased on fee information which is stored in one of the second storagemeans and the mobile storage module.
 13. A system as defined in claim12; and further comprising stations arrangeable at rest stops and gasstations along the system of highways which are operative to provideadditional stored credit.
 14. A system as defined in claim 12, andfurther comprising first display means for emitting a signal in theobject that warns of an imminent expiration of credit.
 15. A system asdefined in claim 14, and further comprising second display meansarranged in the object and operatively connected to the identificationmeans so as to be activateable thereby when entering a traveled sectionor geographical zone subject to use billing, said second display meansemitting a corresponding signal in the object indicating entry in such asection or zone.
 16. A system as defined in claim 12, and furthercomprising outwardly acting signal means mounted on the object foremitting a signal when at least one of use of a route subject to billingand presence in a corresponding fixed geographical zone extends beyond adepletion of credit.
 17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein theoutwardly acting signal means is operative to emit a visual signal. 18.A system according to claim 17, wherein the outwardly acting signalmeans is operative to emit an infrared signal.
 19. A system according toclaim 16, wherein the outwardly acting signal means is operative to emita radio signal.
 20. A system as defined in claim 12, and furthercomprising outwardly acting signal means mounted on the object forsending an "OK" signal as long as proper credit is available.
 21. Asystem as defined in claim 20, wherein the outwardly acting signal meansis operative to emit a visual signal.
 22. A system according to claim21, wherein the outwardly acting signal means is operative to emit aninfrared signal.
 23. A system according to claim 20, wherein theoutwardly acting signal means is operative to emit a radio signal.
 24. Asystem as defined in claim 1, wherein the reception system, the firststorage means, the comparison means and the identification means areconfigured as a single logging device.
 25. A system as defined in claim24, wherein the logging device is configured to be activateable by aconnection with the mobile storage module.
 26. A system as defined inclaim 24, wherein the logging device is configured as a component partof a car radio.
 27. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the loggingdevice is configured as a terminal of a traffic control system on boardthe vehicle.
 28. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the loggingdevice is configured to be removably connected in the use billing systemso that the logging device is portable.
 29. A system as defined in claim24, wherein the logging device is operative to determine parametersidentifying duration and intensity of use of the system of distances bythe object.